Read, reflect, pray
Nihon Shoki: An oath with sword and jewels
Nihon Shoki · Story 7 of 17
剣と玉による、誓約
Munakata’s three goddesses and five male deities.
English translation of this site’s published story summary and reading notes. This is a selected reading guide, not a complete translation of the ancient chronicle.
Main narrative
Book 1, section 6
Before going to the root land, Susanoo ascends to meet Amaterasu. Suspecting he has come to seize her country, she arms herself. He denies harmful intent, and an ukehi is undertaken to demonstrate it.
Amaterasu chews Susanoo’s sword, and Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime, and Ichikishimahime arise from her misty breath. Susanoo chews Amaterasu’s jewels, producing five male deities including Amenooshihomimi and Amenohohi.
According to ownership of the original objects, Amaterasu assigns the male deities to herself and the three female deities to Susanoo. The main narrative identifies the three as deities worshiped by the Munakata people in Tsukushi.
Compare with the Kojiki
The Kojiki also has an ukehi producing deities from sword and jewels. Further Nihon Shoki variants differ in order, objects, and number of male deities; this page follows the main narrative of section 6.
Amaterasu and Susanoo’s oath →Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.